HEADLINES

Jason Garrett

NFC East Notes: Garrett, Redskins, Giants

March 26th, 2014 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said last month that he’s not thinking about his contract situation, despite entering the last year of his deal. Following those comments, owner Jerry Jones stressed that 2014 is not necessarily a make-or-break season for Garrett, and he expressed that sentiment in stronger terms yesterday. Asked if the head coach must lead the Cowboys to the postseason this year in order to keep his job, Jones said he doesn’t look at it that way “at all,” according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Here’s more from around the NFC East:

  • According to head coach Jay Gruden, no teams have contacted the Redskins about acquiring Kirk Cousins. Gruden indicated today he’s excited to have Cousins backing up Robert Griffin III , tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • Discussing Brian Orakpo, Gruden said he wouldn’t mind the linebacker playing out the 2014 season on his one-year franchise tag to see what he can do before the Redskins lock him up to a long-term deal (Twitter link via Jones).
  • The Giants added Rashad Jennings and re-signed Peyton Hillis in free agency, but with Andre Brown likely to sign elsewhere and David Wilson still recovering from neck surgery, head coach Tom Coughlin suggested today that the team will likely need to add another running back to be safe (Twitter link via Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post).
  • Coughlin, the NFL’s oldest current head coach, also said today that he feels great health-wise and feels like he can keep coaching beyond this season, tweets Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.

Jerry Jones Talks Garrett, Orton, Coaches

February 24th, 2014 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

Jerry Jones spoke to the media yesterday, and while we already passed along his comments on DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboys owner weighed in on several other topics as well. Among the highlights from Jones was a vote of confidence for embattled head coach Jason Garrett, who heads into a contract year in 2014. While the coming season as viewed as a potential make-or-break year for Garrett, Jones suggested that’s not necessarily the case, according to ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer.

“Jason should know and I know that he knows that the plan here is and has been for him to be long term,” Jones said. “And long term certainly being beyond this year as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Here’s more from the outspoken Cowboys owner:

  • Kyle Orton‘s certain with the Cowboys remains uncertain, but Jones is moving forward as if the backup quarterback will return and play out the final year of his contract, according to Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
  • Jones on Orton: “If he plays, we want him to play with the Cowboys. I could say to him directly the last time we were together made it very rewarding and worthwhile for you to be on the team, and I hope it was rewarding to you. I can say that. That was a good example of money well spent in my mind, and it shows you where we might be if we need him for an extended period of time.”
  • Jones believes that the Cowboys are capable of competing for a Super Bowl in 2014 in spite of the club’s cap limitations, writes Sabin in a separate Morning News story.
  • As Archer details at ESPNDallas.com, Jones also clarified the roles that Scott Linehan, Bill Callahan, and Jason Garrett will have in the offense for 2014.

Garrett, Cowboys Haven’t Talked Extension

February 20th, 2014 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Cowboys management hasn’t approached Jason Garrett to discuss a contract extension, the Dallas head coach told reporters today, including Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News. With Garrett’s current deal set to expire after the 2014 season, it appears as if he’s heading into a make-or-break year. For his part, the Cowboys coach said he hadn’t given much thought to the added job security a long-term contract would provide.

“My focus is on being the best coach I can be each and every day,” Garrett said. “That’s what I think about and that’s what my focus is.”

Garrett is 29-27 in three and a half years as the Cowboys’ head coach, and his three full seasons at the helm look awfully similar: Three consecutive 8-8 finishes, with zero playoff appearances. Given the expectations the Cowboys face heading into each and every season, it’d be no surprise if Garrett is on the hot seat this fall.

Speaking to the media in Indianapolis today, Garrett also confirmed what had been previously reported, telling reporters that he’ll be taking a step back from the offense in 2014 with Scott Linehan on board as the Cowboys’ primary play-caller (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com).